Vehicle comparison system

ABSTRACT

A system for comparing energy usage of different vehicle platforms is provided. The system may include a processor to execute routines stored in a memory device. Further, in one embodiment the routines include routines configured to receive selection of a driving style by a user and to select a virtual test drive based on the received selection. Also, the routines may include routines configured to output the selected virtual test drive and to output a comparison of multiple vehicles having different characteristics based on the selected virtual test drive. Other systems, methods, and manufactures are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/231,766, entitled “VEHICLE COMPARISON SYSTEM,” filed Sep. 13, 2011,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart that may be related to various aspects of the present invention,which are described or claimed below. This discussion is believed to behelpful in providing the reader with background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the presentinvention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statementsare to be read in this light and not as admissions of prior art.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to comparisons ofvehicles for a user. More specifically, some embodiments of the presentdisclosure relate to a vehicle comparison tool allowing a user to take avirtual test drive of different vehicles.

When purchasing cars, trucks, or other vehicles, consumers oftenconsider many factors, including cost of ownership. Advanced vehicletechnologies, including start-stop functionality, hybrid vehicles, andfully electric vehicles, are becoming increasingly available in themarket. And vehicles with such advanced technology may have lower fuelcosts or other operating expenses compared to conventional vehicles withonly an internal combustion engine. While general costs of ownership ofdifferent vehicles and fuel calculators are available to consumers,these tools may not be adequate to inform consumers of possible benefitsof advanced vehicle technologies. Recent polling suggests that a largemajority of driving Americans would consider buying a vehicle with suchadvanced technology at existing prices, but less than half know of anydifferences between the various advanced technologies available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the originally claimedinvention are set forth below. It should be understood that theseaspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summaryof certain forms various embodiments of the presently disclosed subjectmatter might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit thescope of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety ofaspects that may not be set forth below.

Embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter may generallyrelate to allowing a potential consumer to compare different vehicles.Particularly, in at least some embodiments, a vehicle comparison toolallows a user to take a virtual test drive of different vehicles, suchas a conventional vehicle, a start-stop vehicle, and a hybrid vehicle.The virtual test drive may include an animation and comparison data forthe different vehicles. In some embodiments, the virtual test drive maybe selected based on one or more user inputs, such as a user-selecteddriving style.

Various refinements of the features noted above may exist in relation tovarious aspects of the subject matter described herein. Further featuresmay also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. Theserefinements and additional features may exist individually or in anycombination. For instance, various features discussed below in relationto one or more of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated intoany of the described embodiments of the present disclosure alone or inany combination. Again, the brief summary presented above is intendedonly to familiarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of thesubject matter disclosed herein without limitation to the claimedsubject matter.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a processor-based device that may employthe presently disclosed vehicle comparison tool in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a plurality of user devices that may accessthe vehicle comparison tool from a server via a network in accordancewith one embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a representation of a user device storing a vehiclecomparison tool in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 4 represents a method of operating a vehicle comparison tool inaccordance with one embodiment; and

FIGS. 5-24 depict various user-viewable pages that may be produced by avehicle comparison tool in accordance with one embodiment to facilitateuser understanding and comparison of different vehicle drivetechnologies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed below. In an effort to provide a concise description of theseembodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are describedin the specification. It should be appreciated that in the developmentof any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or designproject, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made toachieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from oneimplementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that sucha development effort might be complex and time consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, andmanufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of thisdisclosure. When introducing elements of various embodiments of thepresent techniques, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

Generally, the presently disclosed embodiments are directed to comparingoperating characteristics of different vehicles. More specifically, auser may take a virtual test drive of the different vehicles and receivecomparative information about the vehicles. While additional detailsabout the virtual test drive and comparisons are provided in greaterdetail below, it is first noted that the presently disclosedfunctionality may be enabled by various processor-based devices.

Accordingly, turning now to the drawings and referring initially to FIG.1, a processor-based system 10 that may be used in conjunction with thesubject matter described herein is depicted. The processor-based system10 may be a general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer,configured to run a variety of software, including software implementingall or part of the functionality described herein. Alternatively, theprocessor-based system 10 may include, among other things, a mainframecomputer, a distributed computing system, a server, or anapplication-specific computer or workstation configured to implement allor part of the presently disclosed functionality based on specializedsoftware or hardware provided as part of the system. Further, theprocessor-based system 10 may include either a single processor or aplurality of processors to facilitate implementation of the presentlydisclosed functionality.

In general, the processor-based system 10 may include a microcontrolleror microprocessor 12, such as a central processing unit (CPU), which mayexecute various routines and processing functions of the system 10. Forexample, the microprocessor 12 may execute various operating systeminstructions as well as software instructions (also referred to hereinas routines) configured to effect certain processes. Such instructionsmay be stored in or provided by a manufacture including a computerreadable-medium, such as a memory 14 (e.g., a random access memory(RAM)) or one or more mass storage devices 16 (e.g., an internal orexternal hard drive; flash memory or another solid-state storage device;an optical disc, such as a CD-ROM or DVD; a magnetic disc; or some otherstorage device). In addition, the microprocessor 12 processes dataprovided as inputs for various routines or software programs, such asdata provided as part of the present techniques. Such data may be storedin, or provided by, the memory 14 or mass storage device 16.Alternatively, such data may be provided to the microprocessor 12 viaone or more input devices 18.

The input devices 18 may include manual input devices, such as akeyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen interface, or the like. In addition,the input devices 18 may include a network device or adapter, such as awired or wireless Ethernet card, a wireless network adapter, or any ofvarious ports or devices configured to facilitate communication withother devices via any suitable communications network 24, such as alocal area network or the Internet. Through such a network device, thesystem 10 may exchange data and communicate with other networkedelectronic systems (e.g., other processor-based systems), whetherproximate to or remote from the system 10. The network 24 may includevarious components that facilitate communication, including switches,routers, servers or other computers, network adapters, communicationscables, and so forth.

Results generated by the microprocessor 12, such as the results obtainedby processing data in accordance with one or more stored routines, maybe provided to an operator via one or more output devices, such as adisplay 20 or a printer 22. Based on the displayed or printed output, anoperator may request additional or alternative processing or provideadditional or alternative data, such as via the input device 18.Communication between the various components of the processor-basedsystem 10 may typically be accomplished via a chipset and one or morebuses or interconnects which electrically connect the components of thesystem 10.

A networked system 30 is depicted in FIG. 2 in accordance with oneembodiment. The system 30 includes a server 32 to which multiple userdevices 34 may connect via the network 24. The network 24 may includeone or more local area networks, wide area networks, and so forth. Forinstance, in one embodiment the network 24 includes the Internet.

In the presently depicted embodiment, the user devices 34 include adesktop computer 36, a laptop computer 38, a tablet computer 40, a mediaplayer 42, and a mobile phone 44. The server 32 and the user devices 34may include hardware components similar to, or identical to, theprocessor-based system 10 discussed above, but may take other forms infull accordance with the present technique. Additionally, varioussoftware routines and data may be stored in memories (e.g., a memory 14or mass storage device 16) of such devices.

For instance, in FIG. 2, the server 32 may include a stored vehiclecomparison tool 46, which may also be referred to as the “Demo Drive”tool. The vehicle comparison tool 46 includes various executableroutines and data that facilitate user interaction and comparison ofvehicles with different characteristics. In one embodiment, the vehiclecomparison tool 46 includes various routines and data, such as a userinterface module 48, a virtual test drive module 50, a comparison module52, and an information module 54. The user devices 34 may access thevehicle comparison tool 46 via the network 24. For example, in oneembodiment the vehicle comparison tool 46 may be provided through awebsite hosted by the server 32 and accessible by the user devices 34over the Internet via any suitable web browser. But in other embodimentsthe vehicle comparison tool 46 may be accessed in other ways, such asbeing stored as an application and executed in a user device 34, asgenerally depicted in FIG. 3 in accordance with another embodiment.Also, the vehicle comparison tool 46 may be implemented through anysuitable programming technology, such as JAVA™ from Oracle Corp. or theAdobe Flash Platform from Adobe Systems Inc.

Whether it is stored in the server 32 or a user device 34, a user mayaccess the vehicle comparison tool 46 to take a virtual test drive andcompare different vehicles. For example, in one embodiment the vehiclecomparison tool 46 may be operated according to a method generallyrepresented by the flowchart 60 of FIG. 4. Through interaction with thevehicle comparison tool 46, a user may input various parameters suchthat the vehicle comparison tool 46 may select or tailor a virtual testdrive and vehicle comparisons for that user. The vehicle comparison tool46 may receive from the user (block 62) information such as a drivingstyle, estimated fuel costs, a vehicle type (e.g., make, model, size,class, etc.), distance typically driven by the user (e.g., per trip,daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly), or a route of interest to the user.

Based on the user's input, the vehicle comparison tool 46 may select avirtual test drive (block 64) for the user. In one embodiment, thevirtual test drive may be selected based on the user-selected drivingstyle alone, and may be selected from multiple, stored, virtual testdrives each associated with a particular driving style. But in otherembodiments, the virtual test drive may be selected based on other oradditional parameters (e.g., vehicle type or distance driven), or mayinclude creating a new virtual test drive based on the user input (e.g.,a user-selected route or vehicle type).

The vehicle comparison tool 46 may also output the virtual test drive(block 66), which may be viewed by a user on a display of a user device34. When accessed via a server 32, the virtual test drive may be outputthrough a webpage. As described in greater detail below, the virtualtest drive may include an animation of a vehicle traveling along avirtual route. As also discussed below, the animation may include one ormore “pause points” to give a user time to stop and read informationcomparing different vehicles (including vehicles identical except fordifferent powertrains) of the virtual test drive.

The method of FIG. 4 also includes outputting the vehicle comparisoninformation for the virtual test drive (block 68). The outputinformation may include, but is not limited to, a real-time descriptionor comparison of the operation of various vehicles simultaneous with theoutput of the virtual test drive. And the real-time comparisoninformation may be selected from a plurality of such information basedon the selected driving style or virtual test drive. In one embodiment,the different vehicles include a conventional vehicle driven by ainternal combustion engine, a start-stop vehicle driven by a internalcombustion engine and having start-stop technology (in which the vehicleincludes regenerative braking and can turn on and off the engine formore efficient operation), and a hybrid driven by both an internalcombustion engine and an electric motor powered by a battery. Thecomparison information may include fuel characteristics, emissions, andcosts associated with each of the various powertrains. Other vehiclesmay be compared in additional embodiments, such as embodiments comparingcars to trucks, small cars to large cars, or one particular vehicle toone or more other particular vehicles.

FIGS. 5-24 depict a series of user-viewable pages demonstratingoperation of a vehicle comparison tool 46 in accordance with oneembodiment. In an embodiment in which the vehicle comparison tool 46 isaccessed from a server via the Internet, a web browser window 80 may beused to display the series of user-viewable pages (e.g., web pages),such as page 82 in FIG. 5. A user may navigate to the page 82 by typingin an appropriate address (e.g., www.mydemodrive.com) in an address line84 of the browser window 80. But as noted above, in other embodimentsthe vehicle comparison tool 46 may be accessible in other ways. Forexample, the vehicle comparison tool 46 may be stored as an applicationon a user device 34, such as a personal computer or a mobile phone. Thepage 82 may request the user's location, which may be used by thevehicle comparison tool 46 to customize the user experience based on theselected region (e.g., metric vs. standard measurements and unit ofcurrency). In the presently illustrated embodiment, the page 82 allows auser to select their location as either the United States or Europeusing buttons 86 or 88. These buttons, as well as others describedherein, may be selected in any appropriate manner. For example, acomputer mouse may be used to move a pointer over and select a button,or a user may touch the button to select it if the button is rendered ona touchscreen display. Although page 82 provides only buttons 86 and 88to select either the United States or Europe as the user location, otherembodiments may include buttons for any number of other locations.

In response to user selection of the location, the vehicle comparisontool 46 may output a page 90 as depicted in FIG. 6. This page mayinclude introductory text, links 92 and 94 to other pages, and a button96 to begin a virtual test drive (i.e., Demo Drive). User selection oflink 92 causes the vehicle comparison tool 46 to output page 100 (FIG.7) describing steps in the virtual test drive. As noted in page 100, thevirtual test drive may include selection of a driving style by the user,comparison of various vehicles (i.e., a conventional, gas-only vehicle;a start-stop vehicle; and a full hybrid in the present embodiment)during a virtual test drive, and a final comparison of the vehicles. Thepage 100 may include further links, such as links 102 and 104, to otherpages. Also, the page 100 (as well as other pages) may include thebutton 96 to begin the virtual test drive and a button 106 to return toa previous page.

By selecting links 102 and 104, a user may navigate to pages 110 and 120of FIGS. 8 and 9. Page 110 includes additional information aboutstart-stop vehicles and page 120 provides additional information abouthybrid electric vehicles. A user may navigate to additional pages byselecting links 112, 114, and 116 from page 110, or by selecting links122, 124, and 126 from page 120. Selection of either link 114 or 124will lead to page 130 (FIG. 10), which provides information on plug-inhybrid electric vehicles. The page 130 may include additional links 132,134, and 136 to navigate to other pages. Likewise, selection of links116, 126, or 136 from pages 110, 120, or 130 results in output of page140 as depicted in FIG. 11. Page 140 provides additional information onfully electric vehicles, and includes links 142, 144, and 146 tonavigate to previously described pages.

From any of the preceding pages, a user may select the begin demo drivebutton 96 to navigate to page 150 of FIG. 12. This page asks the user tochoose a driving style for the virtual test drive by selecting one ofthe icons 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, and 162, and confirming the selectionby activating (e.g., clicking or touching) a select button 164. Like thebuttons of the pages, the icons may be selected in any suitable manner,such as through use of a computer mouse or a touchscreen interface.

In the present embodiment, initial selection of one of the icons, suchas icon 152, may cause the icon to enlarge and the page 150 may providea description 166 of the associated driving style, as depicted in FIG.13. As illustrated in this figure, the icon 152 may be associated with adriving style titled “The Motorway Maven” in which the user navigatestraffic jams and construction along the interstate and freeway. In thepresent embodiment, the other selectable driving styles may include “TheCountryside Commuter” that heads for the horizon along suburban roadwaysand highways (icon 154); “The Urbanite” for users that frequently travelon city streets (icon 156); “The Chauffeur” for users frequentlyshuttling kids to school, activities, and sports (icon 158); “The MobileMarketer” that travels to sell products and services (icon 160); and“The Delivery Driver” whose routes typically include frequent stoppingto make deliveries. Although these driving styles are provided by way ofexample, any other driving styles may be used in addition to or insteadof those described above.

Upon selecting one of the icons and clicking (or touching) the button164, the vehicle comparison tool 46 proceeds to output a page 170 asdepicted in FIG. 14. Generally, page 170 asks the user to select a pricethat the user pays for a gallon of fuel. In the present embodiment, theprice is displayed in fields 172 and may be manipulated through userinteraction with the buttons 174. Of course, for other regions, the page170 may instead ask how much a user pays per liter (or other unit ofmeasurement) of fuel and the price may be input in other currencies(e.g., Euros). A user may then select a button 176 to continue to page180 of FIG. 15 and to commence the virtual test drive.

As noted above, the virtual test drive may include an animation of avehicle traveling on various roadways (e.g., highways, city streets, andrural roads) based on user input, such as selection of the drivingstyle. As also noted above, the animation may include a series of pausepoints in which the animation is paused in order to allow a user to readinformation comparing vehicles for the animated virtual test drive.Examples of information that may be conveyed to a user during thevirtual test drive are provided in FIGS. 15-23, which generally depictpause points during the animation of the virtual test drive.Particularly, in the presently illustrated embodiment, page 180 includesa region 182 for providing information about the virtual test drive to auser. For example, the region 182 may include text indicating theselected driving style, the trip distance of the virtual test drive, anda running narrative describing movement of the vehicle during thevirtual test drive.

It is noted that each driving style may be associated with its own tripdistance and narrative. For example, the virtual test drive for “TheMotorway Maven” may include traveling to a highway; accelerating ontothe highway; driving down the highway at normal operating speeds;encountering rush hour traffic in which the vehicle continually idles,accelerates, and brakes; exiting the highway; and traveling city streetsto a parking lot. In contrast, the virtual test drive for the “TheCountryside Commuter” will differ from that of “The Motorway Maven.” Forexample, the virtual test drive for “The Countryside Commuter” may notinclude encountering rush hour traffic and may include fewer stops forlights and such. Likewise, the virtual test drives for other drivingstyles may include different parameters, routes, and operation. By wayof further example, the virtual test drive for “The Delivery Driver” mayinclude no, or limited, highway driving along with frequent stops atstop lights and at addresses (e.g., for deliveries). Additionally, thedistances of segments of routes, the number of stops, the speeds, therates of acceleration, and many other parameters may differ between thevirtual test drives for the different driving styles, all of which mayimpact the comparisons provided by the vehicle comparison tool 46.

In one embodiment, the appropriate animation 184 is selected by thevehicle comparison tool 46 from multiple animations based on user input(e.g., the selected driving style or other input) and is provided inpage 180. Further, the page 180 may include a region 186 that includes acomparison of different vehicles for the virtual test drive. In thepresently illustrated embodiment, these different vehicles include aconventional vehicle, a start-stop vehicle, and a hybrid vehicle. Thesedifferent vehicles may be generally represented in the animation 184 bya vehicle 188, which travels on roadways 190.

Statistics for each of the different vehicles represented by the vehicle188 in the animation 184 may be presented in panels 192, 194, and 196.These statistics may include instant fuel economy 198, average miles pergallon 200, carbon dioxide emission 202, and trip cost 204 for thevirtual test drive for each of the different vehicles. The panels 192,194, and 196 may also include text areas 206 to contemporaneouslyprovide a description of operation of each vehicle during the virtualtest drive (i.e., during the animation 184). For example, the text areas206 provide a description of operation of the different vehiclesconsistent with the narrative provided in region 182 and the animation184. In FIG. 15, the text area 206 describes the initial start up andmovement of the vehicles. As depicted, the text areas 206 of the panels192 and 194 indicate that the engines of the vehicles start and, fueledby gas, propel the vehicles. In contrast, the text area 206 of panel 196notes that the battery of the hybrid vehicle is used to power anelectric motor that propels the vehicle without starting a gas engine orconsuming fuel.

A user may start the animation 184 by selecting the start button 208 ormay skip the animation 184 by selecting the link 210 to skip ahead tothe results of the virtual test drive. Also, the user may select link212 to return to informational pages, such as those describedpreviously. Upon selecting the start button 208, the animation 184 willplay and depict the vehicle 188 navigating roads 190 until the animationreaches another pause point generally depicted in FIG. 16. Duringplayback of the animation 184, the narrative in region 182 describes theevents depicted in the animation 184, while region 186 simultaneouslyprovides information about operation of the different vehiclesrepresented by the vehicle 188 in the animation 184. In FIG. 16, thenarrative in region 182 describes the animation 184 up to the pausepoint represented in FIG. 16. In other words, up to the point depictedin FIG. 16, the vehicle 188 has accelerated down a neighborhood streetand headed for the freeway with a travel speed (average or median) oftwenty miles per hour. The user may continue the animation by selectingthe button 214.

Next, the animation 184 proceeds to depict the vehicle 188 traveling andthen braking to a full stop at a traffic light 218 before the animation184 pauses again, as represented in FIG. 17. During the animation 184between the pause points represented by FIGS. 16 and 17, during thepause point represented by FIG. 17, or during both, the text areas 206describe differences between the conventional vehicle, the start-stopvehicle, and the hybrid vehicle. Particularly, as may be seen from FIG.17, text area 206 of panel 192 notes that in a conventional vehiclefriction brakes stop the vehicle and convert its momentum to energy thatis lost to the atmosphere. In contrast, the text areas 206 of the panels194 and 196 provide that the start-stop vehicle and the hybrid vehicleeach include regenerative brakes that halt the vehicle and convert itsmomentum to electrical energy that is used to recharge the battery.

Upon again selecting the button 214, the animation 184 continues withthe vehicle 188 getting on a highway through a metered on-ramp and thenaccelerating quickly from zero to seventy miles per hour before reachingthe next pause point depicted in FIG. 18. Additional narrativedescribing the animation 184 continues to be provided in the region 182,as is description of the operation of the different vehicles within thepanels 192, 194, and 196.

Continuing from the pause point of FIG. 18, the animation continues byshowing the vehicle 188 traveling along the highway at a cruising speed(e.g., seventy miles per hour) before reaching another pause point,generally depicted in FIG. 19. Between or during the pause points (orboth), additional narrative and information is provided to the user inthe regions 182 and 186. The user may continue the animation by againselecting the button 214, causing the virtual test drive to continuewith the animation 184 by showing the vehicle 188 encounteringrush-hour, stop-and-go traffic near the city before reaching anotherpause point depicted in FIG. 20. The user may read the associatednarrative and information from regions 182 and 186 and then continue theanimation by again selecting button 214.

The animation 184 then proceeds to show the vehicle 188 exiting thehighway and coming to a stop at a traffic light 222 before the animation184 stops again at a pause point generally represented in FIG. 21. Asbefore, the user may continue to read information in the regions 182 and186 during the animation (i.e., during or between the pause points).Also, the user may again select the continue button 214 and theanimation 184 will continue by showing the vehicle 188 travel roadways190 through additional intersections and stops (e.g., at stop sign 226)before the animation 184 pauses again as generally depicted in FIG. 22.Upon another selection of the continue button 214, the animation 184will again continue by depicting the vehicle 188 traveling down theroadway into a parking lot and coming to a stop corresponding to thefinal pause point, as generally depicted in FIG. 23. The user may thenselect the button 230 to view a page 240 summarizing differences betweenthe vehicles compared for the virtual test drive.

As depicted in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 24, the page 240 mayinclude a panel 242 comparing carbon dioxide emissions of the differentvehicles, a panel 244 comparing fuel costs or savings for the differentvehicles, and a panel 246 comparing cost of ownership differences forthe vehicles. Information about the comparisons in each panel may beviewed by selecting the respective information button 248. While certainpanels 242, 244, and 246 are provided in page 240 in the presentlyillustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that other embodimentsmay include other or different comparisons of interest for the differentvehicles and are not limited to those presently depicted. Further, thedepicted panels 242, 244, and 246 generally represent the conventionalvehicle as a base for comparison to the start-stop vehicle and thehybrid vehicle. Particularly, the panel 242 depicts carbon dioxideemissions savings of the start-stop vehicle and the hybrid vehiclecompared to the conventional vehicle, while panel 244 depicts expectedfuel savings for the start-stop vehicle and the hybrid vehicle comparedto the conventional vehicle. These savings may be based on certainassumptions, such as the amount of miles driven and the price of fuel.The panel 246 compares the amount of time it would take for the fuelsavings to equal any additional costs associated with the start-stopvehicle and hybrid vehicle when compared to the conventional vehicle.The page 240, or any other page, may include additional buttons tonavigate to further pages. For instance, the page 240 includes a button250 to visit a corporate website, a button 252 to start the virtual testdrive again, a button 254 to invite another user to try the virtualvehicle comparison tool, and a one or more buttons for linking to asocial media site (e.g., button 256 linking to FACEBOOK ®).

Although FIGS. 5-24 include specific examples of one embodiment, it willbe appreciated that the vehicle comparison tool 46 may include anynumber of additional functionalities and pages in other embodiments. Forexample, the vehicle comparison tool 46 may provide a user withquestions for a dealership when shopping for a vehicle or allow fordialog between the user and the dealership. Further, the vehiclecomparison tool 46 may allow the user to subscribe to an RSS (ReallySimple Syndication) feed for information on different vehicles andtechnologies.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and have been described in detail herein.However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended tobe limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention isto cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingappended claims.

1. A method for a virtual test drive, comprising: presenting, on adisplay device of a computer, a user interface prompting a user toprovide one or more parameters of the virtual test drive; receiving,from an input device of the computer, the one or more parameters of thevirtual test drive; selecting, via a processor of the computer, asimulated route for the virtual test drive based on the one or moreparameters of the virtual test drive; presenting, on the display device,an animation of a depicted vehicle traveling along a portion of thesimulated route; and presenting, along with the animation, simulatedperformance information for different types of vehicles traveling theportion of the simulated route.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theone or more parameters of the virtual test drive comprise the differenttypes of vehicles.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of thedifferent types of vehicles comprises a different power technology. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the different types of vehicles comprisea hybrid vehicle including both an electric motor and an internalcombustion engine that drive the hybrid vehicle, a start-stop vehicleincluding start-stop technology and an internal combustion engine thatdrives the start-stop vehicle, and a conventional vehicle that does nothave start-stop technology and is driven only by an internal combustionengine.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters ofthe virtual test drive comprise a driving style of the user.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, comprising presenting, on the display device of thecomputer, a summary that compares the simulated performance informationof the different types of vehicles traveling the simulated route.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the one or more parameters of the virtualtest drive comprise a trip distance, and wherein the summary comprisesone or more calculations based on both the trip distance and thesimulated performance information of the different types of vehicles. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated performance informationcomprises fuel economy, carbon dioxide emissions, and trip cost for eachof the different types of vehicles.
 9. The method of claim 1, comprisingpresenting, along with the animation, a narrative description of thedepicted vehicle traveling the portion of the simulated route.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, presenting, along with the animation, text thathighlights differences in the simulated performance information for thedifferent types of vehicles traveling the portion of the simulatedroute.
 11. The method of claim 1, comprising: presenting, on the displaydevice, a second animation of the depicted vehicle traveling along asecond portion of the simulated route; and presenting, along with thesecond animation, simulated performance information for the differenttypes of vehicles traveling the second portion of the simulated route.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first portion and the secondportion of the simulated route comprise acceleration, deceleration, oridling of the depicted vehicle.
 13. A non-transitory, computer-readablemedium storing executable instructions stored thereon, the executableinstructions comprising: instructions adapted to output an animateddemonstration including a depicted vehicle traveling along a route; andinstructions adapted to output, simultaneous with the output of theanimated demonstration, a real-time comparison of simulated operatingcharacteristics for a plurality of virtual vehicles traveling along theroute of the depicted vehicle.
 14. The medium of claim 13, wherein theexecutable instructions comprise instructions adapted to select theanimated demonstration from a plurality of animated demonstrations basedon a user selection of a driving style.
 15. The medium of claim 13,wherein the executable instructions comprise instructions adapted toselect a stored real-time comparison from a plurality of storedreal-time comparisons each corresponding to a different one of theplurality of animated demonstrations.
 16. The medium of claim 13,wherein the executable instructions comprise instructions configured tooutput questions, based on the animated demonstration and the real-timecomparison, for a user to ask when shopping at a vehicle dealership. 17.The medium of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions compriseinstructions configured to enable a user to communicate with a vehicledealership upon completion of the output of the animated demonstration.18. The medium of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions compriseinstructions configured to enable a user to subscribe to aninformational feed corresponding to at least one of the plurality ofvirtual vehicles upon completion of the output of the animateddemonstration.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the real-timecomparison of at least fuel economy, carbon dioxide emissions, and tripcost comprises a plurality of animated graphics, and wherein each of theplurality of animated graphics presents the fuel economy, the carbondioxide emissions, or the trip cost for at least one of the plurality ofvirtual vehicles.
 20. A virtual test drive system, comprising: anapplication comprising a plurality of instructions, wherein theplurality of instructions are stored in a memory and configured to beexecuted by a processor to facilitate operation of: a means for a userto choose a driving style from a plurality of different driving stylesusing one or more input devices; and a means for presenting a virtualtest drive to the user on one or more display devices, wherein thevirtual test drive includes a depiction of a vehicle navigating asimulated route that corresponds to the driving style chosen by theuser, wherein the depiction is presented concurrently with simulatedperformance data for a plurality of differently powered vehiclesnavigating the simulated route.
 21. The system of claim 20, comprising ameans for the user to choose a respective vehicle type for the pluralityof differently powered vehicles using the one or more input devices. 22.The system of claim 20, comprising a means for the user to choose thesimulated route from a plurality of simulated routes using the one ormore input devices.
 23. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality ofdifferently powered vehicles comprise a hybrid vehicle including both anelectric motor and an internal combustion engine that drive the hybridvehicle, a start-stop vehicle including start-stop technology and aninternal combustion engine that drives the start-stop vehicle, and aconventional vehicle that does not have start-stop technology and isdriven only by an internal combustion engine.
 24. The system of claim20, comprising a means for presenting a summary to the user on one ormore display devices when the virtual test drive ends, wherein thesummary summarizes the simulated performance of the plurality ofdifferently powered vehicles.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein thesummary includes a cost of ownership for the plurality of differentlypowered vehicles.
 26. The system of claim 20, wherein simulatedperformance data comprises fuel economy, carbon dioxide emissions, andtrip cost for each of the plurality of differently powered vehiclesnavigating the simulated route.
 27. The system of claim 20, wherein thevirtual test drive is presented to the user via an internet browserapplication executing on a remote computer system that iscommunicatively coupled to the virtual test drive system via an internetconnection.